Mint2B Farm

Mint2B Farm Mint2B Farm began in Washington in 2014 and now thrives in South Carolina.

We honor the land, care for our animals with respect, and grow with practices that heal rather than harm—creating a little paradise for our family and community.

09/10/2026

CHOOSING A MEAT CHICKEN: THE PROS AND CONS OF COMMON BREEDS AND HYBRIDS

Not every chicken raised for meat performs the same way. Some reach processing weight within two months, while others must be fed for five or six months. Some can reproduce naturally and provide replacement chicks, while commercial hybrids must be purchased from a hatchery for each new batch.

Before choosing a meat chicken, consider:

• How quickly you want the birds to reach processing weight
• How much feed you can afford
• Whether you want to hatch your own replacements
• How much breast meat you prefer
• Whether the birds will be raised on pasture
• Your summer temperatures
• The amount of housing and pen space available
• Whether you want meat birds only or chickens that also lay eggs

Processing ages listed below are estimates. Genetics, s*x, nutrition, weather, management and desired finished weight will all affect the results.

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CORNISH CROSS

Approximate processing age: 6–9 weeks

Cornish Cross is the most common commercial meat chicken in the United States. It is a terminal hybrid produced from specialized parent lines—not a true breed that can be reproduced on the farm.

Pros:

• Extremely fast growth
• Best feed conversion of the common meat birds
• Large breast and excellent meat yield
• Predictable processing age
• Uniform finished carcasses
• Fewer weeks of feeding
• Ideal for seasonal batches
• No breeding flock must be maintained through winter

Cons:

• Chicks must be purchased for every batch
• Cannot be bred true or recreated by breeding the meat birds together
• Requires careful feed management
• Can develop leg, heart or mobility problems if overfed or poorly managed
• Less active than slower-growing chickens
• May struggle during extreme heat
• Not suitable as a long-term laying or breeding flock

Mint2B Farm chooses Cornish Cross because its fast growth and feed efficiency allow us to raise planned seasonal batches. We do not have to maintain and feed an additional meat-bird breeding flock throughout winter.

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FREEDOM RANGER OR RED RANGER

Approximate processing age: 9–12 weeks, sometimes longer

Freedom Rangers and Red Rangers are slower-growing commercial meat hybrids. Their exact genetics and performance can vary by hatchery.

Pros:

• More active than Cornish Cross
• Better foragers
• Well suited to pasture systems
• Generally stronger legs
• Often tolerate heat and changing weather better
• Flavorful meat with a firmer texture
• Faster than most heritage breeds

Cons:

• Require more weeks of feed than Cornish Cross
• Less efficient feed conversion
• Smaller breasts
• Finished sizes may be less uniform
• Usually cost more to raise per pound of meat
• Chicks must generally be purchased for each batch
• Commercial Ranger hybrids do not breed true

Rangers can be a good compromise for farmers who want a more active pasture bird without waiting as long as they would for a heritage breed.

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KOSHER KING

Approximate processing age: 10–14 weeks

Kosher Kings are active commercial meat hybrids known for their foraging ability and darker feathering.

Pros:

• Active and capable foragers
• Strong pasture performance
• Generally good leg strength
• Faster-growing than most heritage chickens
• Flavorful meat
• Dark feathers may make the live birds less visible to aerial predators

Cons:

• Slower than Cornish Cross
• Require more feed
• Produce less breast meat
• Dark pinfeathers may remain visible after processing
• Finished birds may be less uniform
• Chicks usually must be purchased
• Cannot be relied upon to reproduce the same hybrid on the farm

Kosher Kings are worth considering when pasture activity is more important than maximum growth speed.

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GINGER BROILER, RAINBOW RANGER AND OTHER COLORED BROILERS

Approximate processing age: 9–14 weeks

Several hatcheries offer colored broiler hybrids under names such as Ginger Broiler, Rainbow Ranger, Rustic Ranger and Rosambro. These names do not always represent identical genetics.

Pros:

• More active than Cornish Cross
• Generally good foragers
• Attractive feather colors
• Better suited to many pasture systems
• Faster-growing than most heritage breeds
• Meat often has a firmer, more traditional texture

Cons:

• Growth rate varies by hatchery line
• Less feed-efficient than Cornish Cross
• Require additional weeks of feeding
• Smaller breasts
• Colored pinfeathers may be visible after processing
• Commercial hybrids do not breed true
• Chicks normally must be purchased for every batch

Always ask the hatchery for the expected processing age and finished weight of its particular colored broiler.

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DELAWARE

Approximate processing age: 16–24 weeks

The Delaware is a true-breeding American heritage chicken originally developed for meat production. Today, it is generally considered a dual-purpose breed.

Pros:

• Can reproduce naturally on the farm
• Breeds true
• Useful for both meat and eggs
• Generally calm and manageable
• Light feathers produce a clean-looking carcass
• Suitable for a self-replacing flock
• Hens are dependable layers

Cons:

• Much slower than commercial hybrids
• Requires significantly more feed
• Smaller finished carcass
• Less breast meat
• Modern hatchery lines vary in quality and size
• A breeding flock requires year-round feed, housing and care
• Careful selection may be needed to maintain good meat qualities

Delawares are one of the better choices for farmers who want a true-breeding, dual-purpose flock.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Approximate processing age: 16–24 weeks

New Hampshires are true-breeding chickens developed for relatively early maturity, egg production and meat.

Pros:

• Can reproduce naturally
• Breeds true
• Useful for eggs and meat
• Hardy and adaptable
• Faster-growing than some heritage breeds
• Good option for a self-replacing farm flock
• Generally productive hens

Cons:

• Considerably slower than commercial broilers
• Higher feed cost for every pound of meat
• Narrower breast
• Smaller finished carcass
• Reddish pinfeathers may be visible after processing
• Size and growth rate vary between bloodlines
• Breeders must be fed and housed throughout the year

New Hampshires offer versatility, but they cannot match the growth or efficiency of Cornish Cross.

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PLYMOUTH ROCK

Approximate processing age: 18–24 weeks

Plymouth Rocks, including Barred Rocks and White Rocks, are traditional American dual-purpose chickens.

Pros:

• True-breeding
• Can produce replacement chicks on the farm
• Useful for both eggs and meat
• Generally calm and easy to manage
• Hardy in many climates
• Widely available
• Good traditional homestead chicken

Cons:

• Slow compared with commercial meat birds
• Requires months of feed
• Smaller breast and overall meat yield
• Many hatchery lines are selected more for eggs than meat
• Barred Rocks can leave dark pinfeathers
• Maintaining breeders adds year-round expenses

White Plymouth Rocks generally leave a cleaner-looking processed carcass than Barred Rocks because their pinfeathers are less noticeable.

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STANDARD CORNISH

Approximate processing age: 18–24 weeks or longer

Standard Cornish chickens, including Dark Cornish and White Laced Red Cornish, should not be confused with Cornish Cross. Standard Cornish is a true breed.

Pros:

• True-breeding
• Naturally broad and muscular
• Heavier breast than many heritage breeds
• Valuable genetics for a farm-developed meat program
• Hardy and powerful birds
• Can be maintained as a breeding flock

Cons:

• Much slower than Cornish Cross
• Poorer feed conversion
• Hens are not especially productive layers
• Natural mating may be difficult in very heavily built lines
• Quality breeding stock can be difficult to find
• Some birds can be assertive
• Breeders require year-round housing and feed

Standard Cornish contributes valuable genetics to meat crosses, but it does not grow or finish like commercial Cornish Cross.

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AMERICAN BRESSE

Approximate processing age: 16–20 weeks or longer

American Bresse chickens are known for meat quality and flavor. They are distinct from genuine French Bresse, whose name and production are protected in France.

Pros:

• True-breeding
• Can reproduce on the farm
• Excellent meat flavor and texture
• Active foragers
• Useful for both eggs and meat
• Potential for a specialty or premium market
• Suitable for a self-replacing flock

Cons:

• Slower-growing than commercial hybrids
• Requires more weeks of feed
• Quality breeding stock can be expensive
• Results vary between bloodlines
• Specialty finishing practices require additional time and labor
• Finished carcass differs from the broad-breasted chicken many customers expect
• Breeders must be maintained throughout the year

American Bresse can be an excellent option when flavor and a self-replacing flock are more important than the lowest production cost.

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JERSEY GIANT

Approximate processing age: 20–30 weeks or longer

Jersey Giants were developed as large American meat chickens. Although their mature size is impressive, they take a long time to reach it.

Pros:

• Very large mature size
• True-breeding
• Can reproduce on the farm
• Generally calm
• Useful for eggs and meat
• Hardy and impressive birds

Cons:

• Extremely slow-growing
• Consumes a large amount of feed
• High cost to reach processing size
• Large mature size does not equal efficient meat production
• Slow breast development
• Black varieties may leave visible pinfeathers
• Requires more space and stronger housing

Jersey Giants become large eventually, but they are not an economical replacement for a fast-growing meat hybrid.

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ORPINGTON

Approximate processing age: 20–28 weeks

Orpingtons, especially Buff Orpingtons, are popular dual-purpose farm chickens.

Pros:

• True-breeding
• Calm and family-friendly
• Useful for eggs and meat
• Hens may become broody and hatch chicks
• Cold-hardy
• Suitable for a self-replacing flock
• Usually easy to handle

Cons:

• Slow-growing
• Requires months of feed
• Much of the bird’s apparent size is feathering
• Less breast meat than commercial broilers
• Heavy feathering can be difficult in extreme heat
• Not economical for rapid meat production
• Breeding stock must be maintained year-round

Orpingtons are valuable multipurpose farm chickens, but they are not specialized meat birds.

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WYANDOTTE

Approximate processing age: 18–26 weeks

Wyandottes are hardy dual-purpose chickens available in several color varieties.

Pros:

• True-breeding
• Can reproduce naturally
• Useful for eggs and meat
• Cold-hardy
• Generally good body size for a heritage chicken
• Suitable for a diversified farm flock

Cons:

• Slow-growing
• Lower feed efficiency
• Smaller breast than a commercial broiler
• Some bloodlines are selected more for appearance than production
• Colored varieties may leave visible pinfeathers
• Breeders require year-round care

Wyandottes are useful all-around chickens, but their value comes from versatility rather than rapid meat production.

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BUCKEYE

Approximate processing age: 16–24 weeks

The Buckeye is an American heritage breed known for hardiness, activity and foraging ability.

Pros:

• True-breeding
• Good forager
• Hardy in cold weather
• Useful for eggs and meat
• Active and alert
• Suitable for a self-replacing flock
• Generally good body shape for a heritage breed

Cons:

• Slower-growing than commercial hybrids
• Requires more feed
• Smaller finished carcass
• Less breast meat
• Dark pinfeathers may be visible
• Quality meat-producing bloodlines may be difficult to locate

Buckeyes can be a good heritage option for farms wanting active birds that reproduce naturally.

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BRAHMA

Approximate processing age: 24–32 weeks or longer

Brahmas are large, heavily feathered chickens often considered for homestead meat production.

Pros:

• Large mature size
• True-breeding
• Can reproduce on the farm
• Calm temperament
• Cold-hardy
• Useful for both eggs and meat

Cons:

• Very slow growth
• High lifetime feed consumption
• Feathered legs require extra care
• Performs poorly in deep mud
• Heavy feathering can be uncomfortable in hot climates
• Large mature size does not mean efficient meat production
• Requires substantial space

Brahmas make beautiful multipurpose farm birds, but they are among the least efficient choices for dedicated meat production.

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AUSTRALORP

Approximate processing age: 18–26 weeks

Australorps are productive dual-purpose chickens best known for laying eggs, although surplus roosters can also provide meat.

Pros:

• True-breeding
• Excellent egg production
• Generally calm and hardy
• Can produce replacement chicks
• Useful for a diversified homestead flock
• Surplus roosters provide a reasonable table bird

Cons:

• More valuable as a layer than a meat bird
• Slow-growing
• Smaller meat yield
• Narrow breast
• Black pinfeathers may remain visible
• Requires considerably more feed than a meat hybrid

Australorps can provide meat, but they should not be expected to perform like specialized broilers.

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COMMERCIAL HYBRID OR TRUE BREED?

This is one of the most important differences to understand.

Commercial meat hybrids include:

• Cornish Cross
• Freedom Ranger
• Red Ranger
• Kosher King
• Ginger Broiler
• Rainbow Ranger
• Other proprietary colored broilers

These birds are created from selected parent lines to produce predictable meat characteristics. They offer faster growth and greater feed efficiency, but they do not breed true. New chicks must normally be purchased for each batch.

True-breeding chickens include:

• Delaware
• New Hampshire
• Plymouth Rock
• Standard Cornish
• American Bresse
• Jersey Giant
• Orpington
• Wyandotte
• Buckeye
• Brahma
• Australorp

These breeds can reproduce naturally and provide replacement chicks. However, they require considerably more time and feed to reach processing weight.

DOES BREEDING YOUR OWN SAVE MONEY?

A self-replacing flock provides greater independence, but producing chicks on the farm is not free.

Breeding birds require:

• Feed throughout the entire year
• Secure housing and fencing
• Separate pens when maintaining pure bloodlines
• Roosters that consume feed but do not lay eggs
• Nesting areas
• Incubators or dependable broody hens
• Electricity and brooder equipment
• Space for growing chicks
• Time spent selecting breeding stock
• A plan for extra roosters and unsuitable birds

The cost of feeding hens and roosters for twelve months can exceed the price of purchasing a planned batch of commercial meat chicks.

For a farm prioritizing genetic independence, maintaining a true-breeding flock may be worth that expense.

For a farm prioritizing efficient seasonal meat production, purchasing commercial meat chicks may be the more practical option.

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WHICH MEAT CHICKEN IS BEST?

Best for the fastest growth and greatest feed efficiency:

Cornish Cross

Best for pasture activity while maintaining relatively fast growth:

Freedom Ranger, Red Ranger, Kosher King or another colored broiler hybrid

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Best for reproducing meat birds on the farm:

Delaware, New Hampshire, Standard Cornish or American Bresse

Best for producing both eggs and meat:

Delaware, New Hampshire, Plymouth Rock, Orpington, Wyandotte or Australorp

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Best for premium flavor:

American Bresse or a slower-growing Ranger-type hybrid

Best for very large mature birds:

Jersey Giant or Brahma—although neither is especially feed-efficient

Best for Mint2B Farm:

Cornish Cross

Mint2B Farm chooses Cornish Cross because we want a dependable meat bird with rapid growth, predictable processing dates and excellent feed conversion.

Cornish Cross is a terminal hybrid and cannot be bred true on the farm. We purchase new chicks for each batch rather than maintaining meat-bird breeders.

For our farm, that is an advantage. It means we do not have to house, protect and feed another breeding flock throughout winter. We can purchase the number of chicks we need, raise them during the appropriate season and process them within a planned period.

Every farm has different goals. A farmer focused on complete reproductive independence may accept slower growth and higher feed costs to maintain a true-breeding flock. Another farmer may choose the efficiency and predictability of a commercial hybrid.

Neither decision is automatically right or wrong.

The best meat chicken is the one that fits the farm’s climate, budget, available space, management style and long-term goals.

09/10/2026

“NO ADDED HORMONES” IN CHICKEN: HOW MARKETING CREATED A PROBLEM THAT DIDN’T EXIST

By: Mint2B Farm

For years, companies such as Perdue have placed “No Hormones or Steroids Added” prominently on chicken packages.

To the average shopper, that sounds like an important promise. It suggests that Perdue chose not to use something other poultry producers might still be giving their chickens. It can make one package appear cleaner, safer or healthier than the chicken sitting beside it.

But here is the fact that should have been printed just as prominently:

Federal regulations prohibit the use of added hormones and steroids in raising poultry in the United States.

Perdue was not offering consumers a special hormone-free chicken. It was advertising compliance with a rule that applied to every American poultry producer.

The claim may have been technically true, but it created a misleading comparison. Consumers could easily assume that chicken without the same bold statement might contain added hormones when, in reality, those producers were following the exact same prohibition.

TURNING A FEDERAL RULE INTO A SELLING POINT

Imagine seeing two packages of chicken at the grocery store.

One package says:

“NO HORMONES OR STEROIDS ADDED.”

The other package says nothing about hormones.

Which one would the average parent believe was safer for their family?

Many people would select the first package, and some might even pay more for it. The bold wording creates the impression that one company voluntarily follows a higher standard.

However, neither producer was legally permitted to use added hormones.

This is how marketing can mislead consumers without necessarily making a completely false statement. The words themselves may be accurate, but the impression created by those words does not tell the whole story.

The claim turns a universal poultry-industry requirement into what appears to be an exclusive company benefit.

THE FINE PRINT DOES NOT ERASE THE IMPRESSION

USDA labeling guidance requires hormone-related claims on poultry to be accompanied by an explanation that federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones.

That disclosure matters, but it is not always presented as prominently as the marketing claim.

Large, bold lettering tells consumers:

“NO HORMONES OR STEROIDS ADDED.”

Much smaller wording explains:

“Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in poultry.”

The company may have satisfied the labeling requirement, but most shoppers remember the bold promise—not the fine print explaining that every American chicken is subject to the same rule.

If the true goal were simply to educate consumers, both statements would be given equal attention.

Instead, the larger claim creates the appearance of a special benefit, while the smaller qualifier quietly admits that the same protection applies to every competing chicken product.

WHY DO MEAT CHICKENS GROW SO FAST?

The hormone claim works because many people have been taught to believe that commercial chickens must be injected with hormones to grow so quickly.

That belief is incorrect.

Modern meat chickens grow rapidly because of genetics, nutrition and careful management—not added hormones.

Decades of selective breeding have produced chickens that efficiently convert feed into meat. Poultry nutrition has also advanced tremendously. Commercial feed is specifically formulated to provide the protein, energy, vitamins and minerals meat birds require during each stage of growth.

Their growth comes from:

• Specialized meat-bird genetics
• Selective breeding by commercial breeding companies
• Efficient feed conversion
• Carefully balanced nutrition
• Controlled brooding temperatures
• Clean water and proper sanitation
• Disease prevention and flock management
• Housing designed to support rapid growth

A modern meat bird is not the same type of chicken as a heritage breed, laying hen or ordinary barnyard cross. Comparing their growth is like comparing a dairy cow selected for milk production with a beef cow selected for meat. Different animals have been developed to perform different jobs.

FAST GROWTH IS NOT PROOF OF HORMONES

At Mint2B Farm, our meat-bird choice is the Cornish Cross.

We choose Cornish Cross because it is specifically developed for efficient meat production. These birds grow quickly, convert feed efficiently and reach processing weight in a much shorter time than most heritage or dual-purpose chickens.

Their fast growth is not the result of hormones.

It is the result of specialized parent lines maintained by commercial poultry breeders. Those carefully selected parent lines are crossed to produce the Cornish Cross chicks purchased by farms and homesteads.

Cornish Cross is a terminal production cross—not a true-breeding farm breed.

That means we cannot keep a few Cornish Cross hens and roosters, hatch their eggs and expect to reproduce the same Cornish Cross meat bird. Their offspring would not reliably have the same growth rate, body structure, consistency or feed efficiency.

To produce the dependable Cornish Cross we purchase, the correct specialized parent lines must be maintained and crossed by the hatchery’s breeding program.

For that reason, Mint2B Farm does not raise Cornish Cross as breeding stock. They are purchased as chicks and raised specifically for meat production.

WHY THAT WORKS FOR MINT2B FARM

The fact that Cornish Cross must be purchased for each batch may not fit the goals of every farm.

A farm focused on maintaining a completely self-replacing flock may prefer a true-breeding heritage or dual-purpose breed. Those farms can keep breeding hens and roosters, hatch their own chicks and continue their bloodlines from one generation to the next.

Mint2B Farm has different priorities for our meat-bird program.

Choosing Cornish Cross allows us to raise planned, seasonal groups without maintaining an additional breeding flock throughout the entire year.

Breeding birds must be fed and cared for whether they are actively producing chicks or not. They require housing, fencing, bedding, predator protection and daily care throughout the winter. Roosters and hens continue consuming feed during months when the farm may not need more meat chicks.

Feed is one of the largest expenses involved in raising poultry. Maintaining an entire breeding flock through winter simply to produce the following season’s meat birds would increase both our feed bill and workload.

By purchasing Cornish Cross chicks when we are ready for a new batch, we can raise the number of birds we need without feeding an additional group of breeding chickens all winter.

For Mint2B Farm, that means:

• No separate Cornish Cross breeding flock
• No winter feed bill for meat-bird breeders
• No additional winter housing for breeding stock
• No need to manage another group of roosters and hens
• More predictable growth and processing dates
• Efficient use of feed, time and available space
• The ability to raise meat birds seasonally
• A consistent amount of meat from each planned batch

Their rapid growth allows us to raise a batch during the appropriate season, process the birds and then use that space for another purpose.

That is a real management benefit—not an empty marketing statement.

CORNISH CROSS AND HERITAGE BREEDS SERVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES

Choosing Cornish Cross does not mean heritage breeds have no value. It means different birds serve different purposes.

True-breeding heritage and dual-purpose chickens offer farmers the ability to hatch their own replacements and maintain a breeding program on the farm. They may forage well, remain productive for longer periods and contribute valuable genetics to small-farm poultry programs.

However, they generally grow more slowly and require more weeks of feed before reaching a suitable processing weight. Many also produce a smaller carcass with less breast meat than a Cornish Cross.

Cornish Cross offers faster growth, predictable processing and excellent feed conversion, but the chicks must be purchased for each batch because the cross cannot be reliably reproduced by breeding the meat birds together.

Neither system is automatically better for every farm.

The right choice depends on the farm’s goals, feed budget, available housing, climate, labor and whether maintaining a self-replacing breeding flock is a priority.

At Mint2B Farm, the efficiency of the Cornish Cross is worth purchasing each new group of chicks. It prevents us from carrying additional breeding birds through winter and feeding them year-round.

That is an honest explanation of both the advantage and the limitation of our chosen meat bird.

CHICKENS NATURALLY PRODUCE HORMONES

Another detail often missing from food marketing is that chickens naturally produce hormones, just like people and every other animal.

Therefore, “hormone-free chicken” is not scientifically accurate. No animal is completely free of naturally occurring hormones.

The correct phrase is “no added hormones.” That means hormones were not administered to the chicken during production.

However, even that statement does not set one American poultry brand apart from another because added hormones are prohibited in all U.S. poultry production.

“HORMONE-FREE” DOES NOT MEAN “ANTIBIOTIC-FREE”

Hormones and antibiotics are also two completely different things.

Hormones regulate natural biological functions such as growth and reproduction. Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent, control or treat bacterial illnesses.

Added hormones are prohibited in American poultry production. Antibiotics may be used under certain circumstances, although some farms and companies follow programs identified as “Raised Without Antibiotics” or “No Antibiotics Ever.”

A “no added hormones” label does not tell consumers anything about:

• Antibiotic use
• The chicken’s diet
• Outdoor or pasture access
• Stocking density
• Animal-welfare practices
• The breed or cross being raised
• Processing methods
• Added saltwater solutions
• Where the chicken was raised
• How far it traveled before reaching the store

Consumers should evaluate every claim separately instead of allowing one reassuring phrase to define the entire product.

HOW THIS MARKETING HURTS SMALL FARMS

This type of labeling does more than confuse grocery-store shoppers. It can also place small farms at a disadvantage.

A local farmer may follow every federal rule and never administer hormones, but the farm may not advertise “no added hormones” in large letters.

After years of seeing that phrase on corporate chicken packaging, customers may mistakenly believe farms that do not make the same claim are using hormones.

Large companies have the advertising budgets to turn ordinary compliance into a memorable promise. Smaller producers are then left explaining that the supposed premium benefit was already required throughout the poultry industry.

Farmers should be able to compete based on genuine differences, including:

• Breed selection
• Feed quality
• Housing conditions
• Pasture access
• Antibiotic practices
• Animal welfare
• Processing methods
• Local production
• Transparency with customers

At Mint2B Farm, we can explain exactly why we choose Cornish Cross, how the birds grow so quickly and why we purchase chicks instead of maintaining meat-bird breeders through winter.

That information helps consumers understand a real farm-management decision.

Simply saying “no added hormones” does not.

WAS PERDUE’S CLAIM FALSE?

The statement that Perdue chickens were raised without added hormones was not necessarily factually false.

The chickens were raised without added hormones.

The concern is that the advertising made an industry-wide legal requirement look like a special Perdue standard.

Consumers may have believed Perdue voluntarily eliminated hormones from its chicken program while other poultry producers continued using them. That was not the case.

Perdue is also not the only poultry company to use this strategy. Similar hormone claims appear across the food industry.

However, a major national company has enormous influence over what families believe about agriculture. When that company repeatedly emphasizes a claim, consumers begin to view it as an important difference between products—even when the difference does not exist.

CONSUMERS DESERVE BETTER INFORMATION

Most families do not have time to study poultry regulations while standing in the grocery aisle. They depend on labels to help them make quick decisions.

That is why the complete truth should be presented clearly.

If “NO HORMONES OR STEROIDS ADDED” is printed in large letters, then “FEDERAL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT THEIR USE IN ALL POULTRY” should be just as noticeable.

Consumers deserve to know whether they are paying for a genuine farming difference or simply responding to carefully chosen advertising language.

There is nothing wrong with a poultry company explaining how its birds were raised. However, those claims should provide meaningful information. They should not make compliance with a federal requirement appear to be an exclusive premium benefit.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Perdue’s “no hormones or steroids added” statement sounded like a special commitment, but added hormones and steroids were already prohibited in American poultry production.

The claim may have been technically accurate, yet it encouraged consumers to believe Perdue chicken was different from chicken that did not carry the same bold wording.

It was not.

At Mint2B Farm, we choose Cornish Cross because its rapid growth and feed efficiency fit our meat-production goals. Cornish Cross is a terminal cross that cannot be bred true on the farm, so we purchase chicks for each planned batch.

That allows us to raise meat birds seasonally without maintaining and feeding an additional breeding flock throughout winter.

Their fast growth comes from specialized genetics, balanced nutrition and careful management—not added hormones.

That is the kind of honest production information consumers deserve.

Perdue did not remove added hormones from chicken production. Federal rules had already prohibited them.

What Perdue added was a marketing message that made a requirement followed by the entire American poultry industry sound like an exclusive promise.

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